182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 1 2017 Festival & THE LATIN SIDE Outdoor Concert Guide OF HOT HOUSE P37 pages 30-37 & 41-42 June 2017 www.hothousejazz.com Nublu Page 4 Jazz Standard Page 17 Orlando le Fleming Azar Lawrence Nicki Parrott Dmitry Baevsky Birdland Page 4 Smalls Jazz Club Page 19 Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 2 2 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 3 3 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 4 Sponsored by Dot Time Records WINNING SPINS By George Kanzler WO 40-SOMETHING MUSICIANS Blossom had a sly sense of humor which from other countries who have become was reflected in her choice of songs, and prominentT on the Big Apple jazz scene as Nicki brings a wry, dryly ironic twist to acoustic upright bassists—Australia's that repertoire. Dave Frishberg's classic Nicki Parrott and England's Orlando le "Peel Me A Grape," inspired by a Mae West Fleming—showcase alternate talents on movie quip, is less comically seductive new CDs that comprise this Winning than Blossom's, but coyer, milking the con- Spins. Nicki does play bass, but features descension of lines like "Never outthink her burgeoning vocal prowess, while me/Just mink me." The track is one of two Orlando eschews his usual acoustic instru- duets on the CD, this one featuring Nicki's ment to concentrate on electric bass. voice and bass with, in his only appearance, Dear Blossom, a Tribute to Blossom Warren Vaché's harmon-muted cornet. Dearie, Nicki Parrott (Arbors Records), Also nicely coy is her up-tempo version finds Nicki essaying 14 songs that the late of Rodgers & Hart's caustic "Everything cabaret/jazz singer and pianist featured in I've Got Belongs to You" with a trio plus her repertoire, delivering vocals on a Chuck Redd on vibes, and an updated ver- dozen. Nicki's voice is clear and clean, but sion with references to Justin Bieber and fuller in tone, less "girlie" and cute, than the Kardashians, of Bob Dorough's trench- Blossom's. She also has that rare and ant voicing of a chaser of au courant admirable ability to fashion even the slow- trends, "I'm Hip." A brisk up-tempo from est verses and refrains into coherent state- the full band—Chris Grasso, piano; reed- ments that illuminate the emotional man Englebert Wrobel, clarinet; Chuck's weight and intent of the lyrics. And she vibes and Lenny Robinson, drums—pro- can do it all with impeccable swing pels the Arthur Schwartz and Howard whether the tempo is dirge-like or swing- Deitz pun-filled "Rhode Island Is Famous ingly up, while simultaneously playing for You." Englebert also adds a sumptuous lines on her bass that complement the song tenor sax solo, very Ben Webster-ish, on and her vocals. the Sy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh ballad "I Walk a Little Faster;" and bossa rhythms invigorate versions of the stan- dards "I Wish You Love" and "It Might As Well Be Spring." A gentler bossa beat cushions Blossom's own bittersweet "Inside a Silent Tear" (lyrics by Mariah Blackwood) and another unfairly obscure ballad, "Try Your Wings" by Dion McGregor and Michael Barr, floats on a vibes-driven waltz time, Nicki deliver- ing a lyrical pizzicato bass solo as well as the tender lyrics. Her bass is also promi- nent, averring why she's prized in neo- swing circles, on the two instrumentals, the standards "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top." Orlando le Fleming & Romantic Funk (OLF Records) is the first album featuring Orlando's electric bass. A former cricketeer in England who moved here in 2003 to pur- sue a new career in jazz, Orlando worked as an acoustic bassist with a wide cross- section of jazzmen, from Branford Marsalis to Bill Charlap. This CD, his first venture on electric bass, channels the vibe of 1970s jazz-rock and funk from Weather Report to Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, with special attention to the groundbreaking work of electric bassist Jaco Pastorius. The tracks here abound, as do the aforementioned bands, with electric keyboards and guitar as well as Orlando's electric bass. However continued on page 29 4 Parrott cover photo by Brian Wittman. 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 5 5 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 6 6 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 7 7 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 8 8 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 9 9 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 10 10 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 11 Sign-up for our E-ALERT at www.hothousejazz.com and be the 1st to know when the latest Hot House is available on line PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR: For advertising requests and Gwen Kelley (formerly Calvier) listing info contact Gwen Kelley [email protected] Toll Free Phone: COPY EDITOR: Yvonne Ervin 888-899-8007/[email protected] [email protected] Hot House Jazz Magazine is published monthly and all PRODUCTION & ART DIRECTOR: copyrights are the property of Gwen Kelley. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced without written Karen Pica [email protected] permission of the President. No unsolicited manuscripts CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: will be returned unless enclosed with a self addressed Ken Dryden, Yvonne Ervin, Ken Franckling, stamped envelope. Domestic subscriptions areavailable for Seton Hawkins, Eugene Holley Jr., $37 annually (sent first class). For Canada $39 and Stephanie Jones, Nathan Kamal, international $50. PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Dave N Dittmann George Kanzler, Elzy Kolb, Ralph A. Miriello, CO-FOUNDERS: Gene Kalbacher, Michael G. Nastos, Emilie Pons, Lynn Taterka & Jeff Levenson Cary Tone, Gary Walker, Eric Wendell For press releases and CD revues send a copy to CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Fran Kaufman Gwen Kelley: PO Box 20212 - New York, NY 10025 11 182121_HH_June_0 5/24/17 11:07 AM Page 12 CLUBS & HALLS UPPER MANHATTAN (Above 70th Street) AARON DAVIS HALL: At City College. 138 Convent Av at W133rd St. www.citycollege centerforthearts.org. 212-650-6900. Jun 9: 7:30pm $25/30 adm La Diva-La Lupe feat Caridad de La Luz “La Bruja”, Nina Rodriguez, Calma Carmona & spec guest Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez. BEACON THEATER: 2130 Bway at W75th St. 212-496-7070. www.beacontheatre.com. Jun 10: 8pm Blue Note Jazz Festival www.bluenotejazzfestival.com feat Pat Metheny w/spec guests Antonio Sanchez, Linda May Han Oh & Gwilym Simcock; 21: 7:30pm Diana Krall. BILL’S PLACE: 148W 133rd St (bet Lenox & 7th Avs). www.billsplaceharlem.com. 212-281- 0777. Fri-Sat: 8&10pm $20 don Bill Saxton Bebop Band. CAVATAPPO: 1712 1st Av (bet 88th & 89th Sts). www.cavatappo.com. 212-987-9260. Sets/adm: Mon 7-10pm free adm Roger Lent Solo; Tues 8-10pm $10; Thurs 9-11pm $10; Sat Brunch 12:30-3:30pm free feat Gabrielle Stravelli. Jun 1: Jason Prover Qrt; 6: Bucky Pizzarelli Trio; 8: John Dokes Qrt; 13: 8-11pm Stuart Mack Trio; 15: Pasquale Grasso; 20: $5 Jam; 22: Matthew Fries w/Kat Gang; 27: 9- 11pm Dennis Joseph Trio; 29: 8-11pm Donald Vega Qrt. CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE: 2485 Bway (bet 92nd & 93rd Sts). www.cleopatrasneedleny. com. 212-769-6969. Sets: Early (E), Late (L); Sun E 4-8pm, L 9pm-1am; Mon-Tues E 8- 9pm, L 10pm-1am; Wed-Thurs E 7-11pm, L 11:30pm-2:30am; Fri-Sat E 8pm-12am, L 12:30-3am. Free adm/$10 min. Trios except Mon&Thurs Duets. L Jam. Residencies: Sun E Open mic w/Keith Ingham, L Kelly Green Duet; Mon E Jon Weiss, L Nathan Brown; Tues Marc Devine; Wed E Open mic w/Les Kurtz, L Nathan Brown; Thurs L Kazu; Fri L Ben Zweig; Sat L T. Kash. Jun 1: Mikhail Romanov; 2: Denton Darien; 3: Masami Ishikawa; 8: Uri Zelig; 9: Libby Richman; 10: Clifford Parparo; 15: Bob Albanese; 16: Julie Bluestone; 17: Matt Baker; 22: Robert Rocker; 23: Satchmo Mannan Qrt; 24: Phil Briggs; 29: Elan Bortniker; 30: Joel Forrester. GINNY’S SUPPER CLUB: At Red Rooster. 310 Lenox Av (bet 125th & 126th Sts). www.ginnyssupperclub.com. 212-792-9001. Sets: 7:30&9:30pm. Jun 1: $20 adm Johnny O'Neal; 3: $15/20 Gotham Kings; 8: $15/20 Willerm Delisfort Project; 15: $15/20 Evan Sherman Big Band; 16: $15/20 Chris Turner & The DropOuts; 22: $20 Johnny O'Neal; 24: $15/20 Anbessa Orch; 30: $20 Winard Harper. MINTON’S: 206W 118th St (bet St. Nicholas Av & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd). 212-243-2222. www.mintonsharlem.com. Sets: Sun 6:30- 10pm, Fri-Sat 7-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 12-3pm Brunch (B). Sun: Singer Meets Saxophonist. Jun 1: Jerome Sabbagh Trio; 7&14: Kelley Green Trio; 9: Josh Lawrence; 11: B Brandon Bain; 17: Curtis Nowosad Qnt; 18: B Dandy Wellington; 21: Jerome Sabbagh Trio; 23: Christopher McBride; 25: B Dandy Wellington. 12 For comprehensive daily updated listings with sort-by options—by artist, location, day or time—go to www.hothousejazz.com. 182121_HH_June_0 5/23/17 6:50 PM Page 13 NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM: 58W 129th St at Malcolm X Blvd. 212-348- 8300. www.jmih.org. 7-8:30pm $10 don. Jun 27: Jazz and the Environment w/Fabian Almazan. PARIS BLUES: 2021 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd at 121st St. www.parisblues harlem.com. 212-222-9878. Sets: Early (E) 5- 9pm, Jam 9pm-1am. Free adm. Sun: E Double G & the Possee, 9pm 1st&3rd La Banda Ramirez, last Elliot Pineiro & Sumbaswing.